Any Toyota Matrix or Pontiac Vibe owners?

[brandylouwho]

Looking at a different car to replace my Ford Freestyle, which I love to drive but, I hate the gas mileage.

We tried to fit the 2 kids in car seats, 100+ lb dog & luggage into the Fusion this weekend and it did NOT work too well. So, now we know at least one of our vehicles has to be on the bigger side.

DH is interested in the Vibe or Matrix. What do you love or not love about your vehicle? What sort of mileage are you getting? How much stuff (people & cargo) can you fit into it?

Any other vehicles you might recommend for schlepping around our kids, dog & stuff? We are not getting a mini van ever according to DH, so those are off the table.

 

[puffkin]

My BIL has a Matrix. We have a Corolla. They are about the same size (I believe they are built on the same frame). The Matrix passenger room seemed about the same, but does seem to have a bit more luggage space. It definitely is not a very roomy car though. Hope this helps.

 

[RMulieri]

My brother just got rid of his vibe.While decent on gas mileage, there was simply not enough room for 2 carseats comfortably.Cargo space is small.Forget about luggage or carrying an animal in there with the 2 carseats in.

 

[thewesterberg]

We're looking at the '09 Subaru Forester - it's got WAY more room than the old Foresters, has AWD (living in northern MN, it's something I'd like to have on my next vehicle), it has decent cargo space, can pull our small pop up camper, it's in our price range and it gets 20/26 mpg. Plus, my 6'5" husband fits!

The Matrix and Vibe were on my list, but we wanted AWD, which some of the original ones have and DH fits. The new ones have it again, but they redesigned them and DH doesn't fit.

 

[RMulieri]

We're looking at the '09 Subaru Forester - it's got WAY more room than the old Foresters, has AWD (living in northern MN, it's something I'd like to have on my next vehicle), it has decent cargo space, can pull our small pop up camper, it's in our price range and it gets 20/26 mpg. Plus, my 6'5" husband fits!

The Matrix and Vibe were on my list, but we wanted AWD, which some of the original ones have and DH fits. The new ones have it again, but they redesigned them and DH doesn't fit.

good to know.We were interested in the subaru.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I LOVE my Forester! It is so roomy and I feel very secure driving it in bad weather.

 

[lutherlovr]

I have a Matrix, I have 3 car seats in the back seat. There is definitely room, but our dog is only 12 lbs, and she goes in her crate in the cargo area. There is definitely not room for a 100 lb dog back there though. I fits the "stuff" that we need, but it is not by any means a large car. I love it though, and it gets about 30-32 mpg. We are looking at downgrading out minivan to a "microvan" like the Mazda 5 or the Kia Rondo.

 

[TwoOwls]

What kind of carseats do you have in the back of your matrix?

 

[ibdamamma]

My mom just traded in her Vibe for a Dodge Journey. The vibe was nice but once she had a minor fender bender the car was trash. Her lease was up and she decided that she wanted the journey because if we had the 7pass we could all fit in one car. She fit 2 car seats wonderfully with my 75lb 7 yr old in the middle. I have the Nissan Versa sedan, I fit a carseat, booster, my 7 yr old and my 6'5 husband quite comfortably in there. My sister in law just got rid of her freestyle too. She works for ford so she got a really incredible deal on the edge. I know the Vibe has nice trunk space where as the versa HB is very small. I am not sure about the martix though. I hope you find the ideal car for you! OH, you can also check out the camery hybrid. I have heard nothing but wonderful things, and the escape has a hybrid too!

 

[lutherlovr]

What kind of carseats do you have in the back of your matrix?

I have all three forward facing, a radian 65 and two Graco Nautilus currently (I carpool one neighborhood kid to school). I am ashamed to admit that I only have 2 children, yet I own 10 carseats! I can fit just about anything back there with the radian in the mix.

 

[Crystal824]

I have a Vibe. It is great on gas about 30 miles to the gallon. You could probably fit 2 carseats in the back, but I don't know about two car seats and the dog. The dog might fit in the cargo area without a crate...it would be pushing it with a large crate. I have had my Vibe for over 3 years and there have been no real problems with the car other than it is hard on tires. I have to replace them almost every year and a half or so... then again, that could be me.

My neigbor has a Matrix and as you probably know they are basically the same car. It was a joint effort by Pontiac and Toyota.

 

[brandylouwho]

Thanks for all the info & suggestions! I knew someone on the boards would have an opinion to share on these things.

We were actaully thinking of the dog in the cargo space w/out a crate. But then I don't think there is any room for a suitcase. Maybe I should start packing for the weekend in duffel bags so I can shove them wherever I can find room (by the kids feet, as a pillow for the dog, etc.).

I am just crabby about the whole situation. I have been wanting a little car to zip around town/back and forth to work in like a Focus (we have been For people in the past) or even a Yaris. But my plan was foiled by a big, sweet, goofy, dog.

I am starting to think a cheaper SUV might be the answer (bad on gas, but cheap-ish on actual car pymt could still save us $).

I guess I will doing a bit of test driving (& test packing) to sort this all out.

 

[Chereya]

I have a 2007 Mazda 5 and it's been great! The gas mileage had steadily been improving since we first bought it. It's getting about 25-26 mpg now. The new 2008 models have a few improvements over the 2007s. You should also check out this similar thread debating cars/minivans:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1799941

I have a lengthier post about my Mazda 5 in that thread.

Chereya

 

[TwoOwls]

I have all three forward facing, a radian 65 and two Graco Nautilus currently (I carpool one neighborhood kid to school). I am ashamed to admit that I only have 2 children, yet I own 10 carseats! I can fit just about anything back there with the radian in the mix.

See I have 2 britax seats and I can't see fitting another seat in there comfortably. Going to see if I can play around with seats this weekend.

 

[Play]

I have a Honda Fit. Have you thought about one of them. It gets great gas mileage (30-34mpg), is relatively cheap, is pretty quick, and has a lot more room than it appears to from the outside. Last week we had 3 car-seats in the back row (nieces and nephew wanted to ride with us). Now, I wouldn't recommend putting 3 kids in the back, it was pretty tight, but there is plenty of room for 2.

 

[brandylouwho]

I have a 2007 Mazda 5 and it's been great! The gas mileage had steadily been improving since we first bought it. It's getting about 25-26 mpg now. The new 2008 models have a few improvements over the 2007s. You should also check out this similar thread debating cars/minivans:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1799941

I have a lengthier post about my Mazda 5 in that thread.

Chereya

Wow-thanks for the advice/opinion as...

I think I'm in love...but there isn't one to be found at a dealership in over 100 miles from here. I thought hubby wouldn't like it as it is mini-van-ish, but he has seen a few around town and thinks they look good. He just ahsn't seen any on th elot, so he hadn't bothered to investigate any further.

We had looked at the Mazda 3 too, and I think I like them over the vibe or matrix...but for a similar price the 5 has much more room.

I just can't see ordering one or deciding on it for sure without a test drive. Maybe we'll have to take a trip to Milwaukee in a few weeks...

 

[Chereya]

I really love the way my 5 drives - it's built on the 3's chassis and engine so if you test a 3, it'll be similar. The engine is Very peppy. It's a joy to drive and my out of town visitors who have driven it agree.

I was in the dealership getting the oil changed and had a chance to browse the 2008 model. Two improvements that I noticed from my 2007 are that the front passenger seat now has its own arm rest (my husband uses my arm rest when I drive). The other improvement is easier access to the 3rd row. Currently you have to make your way to the back from between the two middle rows. It can be challenging for adults, especially larger ones. In the 2008 models, they made the 2nd row seats have a single handle to slide and fold the seat forward so you can enter behind it. I kind if wish I had waited to buy the 2008 if I had known before hand!

Edit: I just noticed you're in Wisconsin, too - we live in Madison. We got the Grand Touring model for the heated front seats and leather instead of fabric. One thing we wanted was AWD but it's not offered on the 5. Also, you need to be aware of high driveways and parking curbs because it's pretty low to the ground.

 

[brandylouwho]

Chereya-I guess it IS a small world afterall.

We're in the Fox Valley. Mazda 5 is what we are most interested in now. Actually drove by one yesterday (in someone's driveway). So we drove by like 3 times. I hope they didn't see us. Appleton dealership has a Grand Touring coming in soon, looks like Brookfield has some on the lot, hubby knows a Mazda salesman in Fond du Lac. Something should work itself out in the next month or so, I would think.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts/advice.